Folding chair



1958 w. c. BAUMGARDNER 4,

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Nov. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1958 w. c. BAUMGARDNER FOLDING CHAIR Filed NOV. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vp!!|vlI|I||lvlnllllllllllllllllllllllltlrllllIllllllillllll INVENT'O-R alziraz' ATTORNEY nited States 1 FOLDING CHAIR William C. Baumgardner, Leonia, N. .l., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application November 27, 1956, Serial No. 624,685

13 Claims. (Cl. 155-147) The invention relates to folding chairs and more particularly to folding chairs of the class wherein crossed pairs of front and rear legs are pivotally connected together and wherein one pair of legs is hinged to a seat and wherein one pair of legs is hinged to a chair back, whereby legs, back and seat are foldable fiat to inoperative positions.

In the usual chair of this type, the back is hinged to the upper ends of the front legs so that it folds forwardly to overlie the seat when in the inoperative position. This arrangement has the advantage that short downward extensions of the back rails can engage the stretcher rounds or the like which connect the upper ends of the front legs to provide limit stops for the back when the same is in the unfolded position. However, this structure has the disadvantage that the chair cannot be used as a backless stool because the chair back overlies the seat when the former is folded. Also, such an arrangement makes it ditficult to provide for a flat collapsing of the parts because the back and seat are both collapsed upon the legs and each other whereby to form a stack which is considerably thicker than the thickness of one component.

Another disadvantage of chairs of this general type is that they collapse too readily particularly if tilted forwardly or it they are over-turned. For instance, the backs and seats are usually secured in the unfolded position solely by gravity or the weight of the user.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide a folding chair of the general type described wherein the chair back is folded rearwardly so as to underlie the seat when in the folded position together with novel means for securing the chair back in both positions.

A further object is to provide a folding chair having novel means for securing the chair in the unfolded or operative position.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the chair, the structure of the several elernents of the same, combinations and subcombinations of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing wherein a preferred species of the invention is disclosed and in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view looking from above and 2,824,600 Patented Feb. 25, 1958 Figure 7 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view on a reduced scale showing the chair in the folded or inoperative position and taken substantially on the same plane as Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is an elevational view on a still further reduced scale showing the chair in the operative position and illustrating the height adjustments of the same.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, the form of the invention illustrated, comprises a pair of front or inner legs 10 which may connect together adjacent the lower ends by a stretcher 11 and at the upper ends by a stretcher 12. The front legs 10 are pivotally connected by any suitable pivot means 13 to a pair of outer or rear legs 14. The rear legs 14 are connected together near their lower ends by a stretcher 15 and at their upper ends by a stretcher 16.

The stretcher 12 which connects the upper ends of the front legs 10 is in the form of a round rod and includes end portions on which the vertical flanges of a pair of inner angles 1'7 are hinged just inside the upper ends of the front or inner legs 10. The angles 17 have horizontal flanges which are directed laterally outwardly in opposite directions to provide supports for any suitable seat 18. A pair of outer angles 19 are also secured to the seat below the same and in laterally outwardly spaced relation to the inner angles 17. The inner and outer vertical flanges of each pair of angles 17 and 19 define channels, the purpose of which will be apparent later. The forward portions of the vertical flanges of the inner pair of angles 17 are formed with a plurality of spaced notches 20 which are shaped to receive therein the upper stretcher 16 for the rear or outer legs 14. These notches 20 comprise means for varying the height of the chair, Figure 8, in a manner readily understood. In like manner, the forward parts of the vertical flanges of the outer pair of angles 19 are formed with a series of spaced notches 21 which are axially aligned with the notches 20 and which are shaped to have a sliding fit with a pair of threaded studs 22 which comprise axially outward extensions of the opposite ends of the upper stretcher 16. As best seen in Figure 6, notches 21 seat on the studs 22 with the vertical flanges of the outer angles 19 just outside the legs 14. Wing nuts 23 are threaded on the studs 22 and when tightened against such vertical flanges of the outer angles 19 coinprise means not only for releasably securing the seat in a selected adjusted position but serve also, as will be apparent later, to secure the entire chair in the operative position. Preferably, the studs 22 have heads 24 fixed thereon outwardly of the nuts 23 to prevent loss of the latter.

A back 25 is provided for the chair and includes a metal fitting cr ferrule 26 on the lower edge thereof which includes a lower tubular hinge journal 27 which is rotatably mounted on the upper stretcher 12 for the front legs it} just inside the inner angles 17 as best seen in Figure 5. The fitting 26 is formed with an upper tubular journal 23 which is located slightly above the journal 27. The open opposite ends for the upper journal 28 provide a pair of sockets or keepers for a pair of inwardly directed latch bolts 29 which are slidable into and out of housings 30 which are fixed atop the rear ends of the horizontal flanges of the angles 17 and 19 rearwardly of the seat 18. The bolts 29 are actuated in any suitable I manner as by the finger pieces 31 which extend upwardly through slots 32 in the housings 30. Thus, with the bolts 29 seated in the opposite ends or sockets of the journal 28, the chair back 25 is releasably secured in the operative position. It should be noted that the back 25 has a width which corresponds substantially to the width of the recess defined by the spaced inner vertical flanges of the angles 17.

When the bolts 29 are retracted, the back 25 is free to swing rearwardly, downwardly and upwardly between the inner flanges of the angles 17 to its folded or inoperative position beneath the seat 18 as best seen in Figure 7. When the back 25 is in this position, the back of the ferrule 26 is presented upwardly and slightly upstanding latch keeper portions 33 are tangent with the bolts 29. Such keeper portions 33 are sufficiently upwardly offset from the ferrule 26 that when the bolts 29 are projected, they bear on the keeper means 33 and prevent the back 25 from being returned to the operative position. Obviously, actual bolt sockets could be substituted instead of the particular keeper means 33 here disclosed. It is clear from the foregoing, that the bolts 29 cooperate with the latch keeper means 28 and 33 to secure the chair back 25 in both the operative and the inoperative or folded positions.

To fold the chair from the upright position of Figure l to the folded position of Figure 7, the bolts 29 are retracted, the back is folded to the inoperative position and there secured by the bolts when the same are again projected. Then the wing nuts 23 are loosened and the seat 18 and the back 25 are swung upwardly on their common axis 12 until the notches and 21 are clear of the upper stretcher 16 and its extensions 22. The legs 10 and 14 are now swung upwardly as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8 until they are parallel. Now, the seat-back assembly is lowered between the folded legs 10 and 14 with the latter being received in the channels formed by the spaced and opposed angles 17 and 19. To unfold and erect the chair the foregoing procedure is reversed.

It is clear from the foregoing that if the back is not required, it may be retracted to the stored or folded position of Figure 7 and the chair used as a stool. It is clear also, that when the wing nuts are tightened against the outer angles 19, the chair or stool becomes a rigid unit and will not collapse even if overturned. The chair is adjustable for three different heights simply by seating the upper stretcher 16 and its extensions 22 in any selected sets of aligned notches 20, 21. Figure 8, at the bottom thereof, shows the three heights which can be obtained by the particular structure here illustrated. Obviously, more or fewer adjusting notches may be provided if desired.

Also, while there has been shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, the invention is not considered to be limited to the exact structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a folding chair, the combination with pivotally connected crossed pairs of front and rear legs having upper ends, a seat, means pivotally mounting said seat atop said upper ends of said legs for folding movement alongside said legs when the latter are folded; of a chair back pivoted to the upper ends of said front pair of legs for movement from an upstanding back-providing position to a stored position beneath said seat, latch means carried by said chair, and said latch means engaging said back in both of said positions to releasably retain the same in both of said positions.

2. In a folding chair, the combination with pivotally connected crossed pairs of front and rear legs having upper ends, a seat, means pivotally mounting said seat atop said upper ends of said legs for folding movement alongside said legs when the latter are folded; of a chair back pivoted to the upper ends of said front pair of legs for movement from an upstanding back-providing position to a stored position flatly engaging said seat beneath the same, latch means, said latch means engaging said back in both the stored and back providing positions to readily releasably retain the same in both positions.

3. In a folding chair, the combination with pivotally connected crossed pairs of front and rear legs having upper ends, a seat, means pivotally mounting said seat atop said upper ends of said legs for folding movement alongside said legs when the latter are folded; of a chair back pivoted to the upper ends of said front pair of legs for movement from an upstanding back-providing position to a stored position beneath said seat, two opposed and aligned latch bolts and sockets therefor on said seat and back, said bolts seating in said sockets to hold said back in one of said positions, and means engaged by said bolts with said back in said other position to readily releasably retain said back in such other position.

4. In a folding chair, the combination with pivotally connected crossed pairs of front and rear legs having upper ends, a seat, means pivotally mounting said seat atop said upper ends of said legs for folding movement alongside said legs when the latter are folded; of a chair back pivoted to the upper ends of said front pair of legs for movement from an upstanding back-providing position to a stored position beneath said seat, two opposed and aligned latch bolts carried by said seat, a pair of bolt sockets carried by said back, said bolts being seatable in said sockets to secure said back in said back-providing position, and means on said back and engaged by said bolts when said back is in said stored position to readily releasably retain said back in said stored position.

5. A folding chair according to claim 1, there being means mounting said latch means on said seat, said seat including a first latch keeper means engaging said latch means when said back is in said upstanding position, and said back having a second latch keeper means engaging said latch means in said stored position of said back.

6. In a folding chair, the combination with crossed pairs of front and rear legs pivotally connected together for folding movement to and from a flat folded position and an erected operative position, a seat, means pivotally mounting said seat atop said legs for folding movement with the same when said legs are folded, said legs having upper ends; of a stretcher rod connecting said upper ends of one pair of legs together, a chair back, pivot means pivotally mounting said chair back on said stretcher means for swinging movement from an upstanding backproviding position to a stored position between said legs and beneath said seat, latch means for securing said back in both of said positions, a stretcher means connecting together said upper ends of said other pair of legs, and said last named stretcher means including means engageable with said seat for securing the same and said legs in said operative position.

7. In a folding chair, the combination with crossed pairs of front and rear legs pivotally connected together for folding movement to and from a fiat folded position and an erected operative position, a seat, means pivotally mounting said seat atop said legs for folding movement with the same when said legs are folded, said legs having upper ends; of a stretcher rod connecting said upper ends of one pair of legs together, said seat including laterally spaced pairs of spaced angles secured beneath the same and extending longitudinally thereof, said angles including laterally spaced vertical flanges, said vertical flanges defining a relatively broad recess below said seat centrally thereof and two relatively narrow channels outside said central recess, a seat back having a width corresponding to that of said central recess, said back being pivoted on said stretcher rod for swinging movement from a stored position in said central recess to an upstanding back providing position, said upper ends of one pair of legs being pivoted to said stretcher rod between an adjacent pair of vertical flanges for folding movement with said legs, and said legs being received in said narrow channels when in said folded position.

8. A folding chair according to claim 6, wherein said upper ends of the other pair of legs include laterally outwardly directed. threaded studs, at least one f ge of each pair being formed with a notch seating one of said studs therein with said chair in the operative position, nuts on said studs, outwardly of said last named flanges, and each nut being engageable with one of said last named flanges for releasably securing said legs in said operative position.

9. In a folding chair, the combination crossed pairs of inner and outer legs pivotally connected together for folding movement to and from a flat folded position and an operative chair-providing position, a chair seat, means pivotally mounting said seat on said legs for folding movement therewith; of tWo laterally spaced pairs of spaced angles secured to said seat beneath the same and extending longitudinally thereof, said angles including laterally spaced vertical flanges defining two spaced and parallel channels, means pivotally mounting at least one vertical flange of each pair on said upper ends of one pair of legs, both pairs of said legs being received in said channels when in said folded position, said upper ends of the other pair of legs including laterally outwardly extending projections, at least one flange of each pair being formed with a notch seating one of said projections therein with said chair in the operative position, and means on each projection releasably engaging at least one flange of each pair for securing said chair in said operative position.

10. A folding chair according to claim 9, where said projections comprise threaded studs and said last named means comprise nuts threaded on said studs.

11. A folding chair according to claim 10, wherein said studs include enlarged heads to retain said nuts thereon.

12. In a folding chair, the combination with crossed pairs of inner and outer legs pivotally connected together for folding movement to and from a flat folded position and an operative chair-providing position, a chair seat, means pivotally mounting said seat on said legs for folding movement therewith; of two laterally spaced pairs of spaced angles secured to said seat beneath the same and extending longitudinally thereof, each pair of said angles including an inner vertical flange and an outer vertical flange, horizontal pivot means pivotally mounting said upper ends of said inner pair of legs and said inner flanges with said inner legs outwardly of said inner flanges, said upper ends of said outer pair of legs including laterally outwardly directed extensions, said outer flanges being formed with notches receiving said extensions there in with said legs and seat in said chair-providing position, and means on each projection releasably engaging said outer flanges for securing said legs and seat in said chair-providing position.

13. A folding chair according to claim 12, where said projections comprise threaded studs and said last named means comprise nuts threaded on said studs outwardly of said outer flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,010 Adams et al. May 23, 1871 200,100 Stanley Feb. 5, 1878 820,973 Hazelton May 22, 1906 2,471,564 Gaudette May 31, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 29,035 France Feb. 3, 1925 (Addition to 570,858)

77,350 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1918 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF CQMTAEHCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIQATE Q'QRRECTEQN Patent No., 2,824,600 February 25, 1958 William Ga Baumgardner It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Let uers Patent should read as corrected below,

Column 2, line 11, for "connect" read be connected column 4, line 29, for "seat", second occurrence, read back column 5, line 3, after "studs" strike out the comma; line 7 for "combination" read combination with column 6, line 9, for "and" read on line 18, for "Where" read wherein e Signed and sealed this 8th day of April 1958.

Attest:

KARL H AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting Officer Conmissioner of Patents 

